Apple this year plans to release a completely redesigned dual GSM-CDMA iPhone, an iPad with a high-resolution screen and an SD card slot, and a new Apple TV with an A5 processor capable of outputting 1080p video, according to a new report.

Engadget on Friday published a number of rumors about Apple's upcoming product line for 2011, including the iPhone 5, iPad 2 and the second generation of the redesigned Apple TV. The report claims that the new iPad is on track for an April launch, and the 3G version will include both GSM and CDMA radios from Qualcomm.

"From what we've been told, the thinner, sleeker tablet will sport a new screen technology that is akin to (though not the same as) the iPhone 4's Retina Display and will be "super high resolution" (unlike reports to the contrary)," editor Joshua Topolsky wrote.

"The device will remain at 10 inches but will now feature both front and rear cameras (not a huge surprise), and... there's an SD slot. That's right -- our sources say with near certainty that the device will have a dedicated SD slot built in (with no traditional USB slot)."

The new iPhone 5 will also have GSM and CDMA radios from Qualcomm, allowing Apple to sell one phone that will be compatible with both AT&T and Verizon. The handset will reportedly not include a 4G LTE radio, however.

"Right now, the device is being tested discreetly by senior staff at Apple (strictly on campus only)," the report said. "We don't have much info on the phone at this point, but our understanding is that the new device will be a total rethink from a design standpoint and will be running atop Apple's new A5 CPU (a Cortex A9-based, multi-core chip)."

Finally, the A5 processor will reportedly also end up in the next Apple TV update, with the new hardware allegedly capable of running 1080p video "like running water." The current Apple TV, built on the iOS operating system, has a maximum resolution of 720p.

Last May, Engadget correctly reported that the new Apple TV would cost $99 and would concentrate on streaming content. It also said that the device would be based on iOS 4. The new Apple TV was announced in September.

Well the Verizon iPhone rumors just stopped... just in time for the iPhone 5 rumors to spin out of control.
I wonder how much business the rumors of a new iPhone world phone (set for release in June) will cost Verizon?

"From what we've been told, the thinner, sleeker tablet will sport a new screen technology that is akin to (though not the same as) the iPhone 4's Retina Display and will be "super high resolution" (unlike reports to the contrary)," editor Joshua Topolsky wrote.

"The device will remain at 10 inches but will now feature both front and rear cameras (not a huge surprise), and... there's an SD slot. That's right -- our sources say with near certainty that the device will have a dedicated SD slot built in (with no traditional USB slot)."

The new iPhone 5 will also have GSM and CDMA radios from Qualcomm, allowing Apple to sell one phone that will be compatible with both AT&T and Verizon. The handset will reportedly not include a 4G LTE radio, however.

"Right now, the device is being tested discreetly by senior staff at Apple (strictly on campus only)," the report said. "We don't have much info on the phone at this point, but our understanding is that the new device will be a total rethink from a design standpoint and will be running atop Apple's new A5 CPU (a Cortex A9-based, multi-core chip)."

Finally, the A5 processor will reportedly also end up in the next Apple TV update, with the new hardware allegedly capable of running 1080p video "like running water." The current Apple TV, built on the iOS operating system, has a maximum resolution of 720p.

Last May, Engadget correctly reported that the new Apple TV would cost $99 and would concentrate on streaming content. It also said that the device would be based on iOS 4. The new Apple TV was announced in September.

Holy crap. Just read this rumor on engadget, if it turns out to be true I'll be most impressed. I still don't think an SD slot is necessary or in Apple's interests, and I remain skeptical. But I welcome it nonetheless, if any of this turns out to be true.

A multicore A5 cpu? Retina display for a 10" screen? Cameras and SD card slot? Seriously I wouldn't expect them to go much beyond the cameras for v2 and save the other stuff for another day.

If they really do all of this THIS YEAR they truly will conquer the world.

It makes no sense that Apple would mass produce a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 running CDMA only if they are planning on releasing the iPhone 5 with a GSM/CDMA chip in it. Why would they not wait the extra 4 months and release one unified product? That seems like it would be much more Apple's style.

One big thing with such a chip is that Apple would possibly have to pay higher licensing to Qualcomm per unit sold (which would make no sense since GSM will always sell way more than CDMA). Really the Verizon iPhone 4 seems like a stopgap - a temporary solution until Verizon is operating BOTH voice and data on LTE (currently data only).

I guess we will see what happens, but it just doesn't make sense that Apple would not just announce Verizon compatibility when they announce the iPhone 5 if this was the case. I think most people know deep down that for at least awhile, GSM models will come out before CDMA ones do (CDMA will be relegated to the quick slide that says "CDMA late Fall" or something like that).

I would like Apple to change their antenna supplier though. I don't think it is the sole cause of the issues people have been having with it by any means, but it is a chip that most manufacturers don't use stateside.

The only way I see this happening is if it is a way for Apple to disguise the fact that until they go LTE there is not much they can say that is exciting about EVDO. They can upgrade them on GSM to HSPA+ - which coud offer a dramatic increase in speed in some cases, but until they go LTE with Verizon it will be same old same old minus the hardware changes. No speed bumps (which they have gone out of their way to showcase in each iPhone presentation), and the only way they get simultaneous voice and data is if Verizon goes VoRA - which would open it up to the same weaknesses that AT&T has with their 3G network where data congestion can impact voice performance. I highly doubt Verizon will go through the costly upgrade to do VoRA while they are so aggressively rolling out LTE.

Long story short...for the iPhone 5 I am skeptical.

Edit: also while thinking, Apple would be paying more per unit doing a CDMA/GSM chip - not just paying more for licensing. They already paying more for to make the CDMA iPhone, why would they spend even more per unit with the CDMA chip is worthless to the majority of the world (some people are in denial over this, but it is true). Long story short...at this point they wouldn't. Maybe with iPhone 6...?

Well the Verizon iPhone rumors just stopped... just in time for the iPhone 5 rumors to spin out of control.
I wonder how much business the rumors of a new iPhone world phone (set for release in June) will cost Verizon?

About 5 years ago I would have said MILLIONS AND MILLIONS...but now we notice that every time a new apple product gets a release there are a slew of things that were on our "wish-list" that didn't make the cut. However, apple STILL continues to sell its products with incredible volume no matter what the disappoint is in the lack of features (or anticipation of an upcoming, more advanced product).

Verizon will sell millions of units. Make millions of dollars. And will do it all again in six months with the iPhone 5.

I think the iPad 2 is likely to have a GSM/CDMA Qualcomm chip. That's been rumoured for a long time. Possibly the iPhone 5 too. I also think we're likely to see an 'A5' chip in the iPad 2 and iPhone 5. I'm very sceptical about the iPad 2 having a higher resolution display or the iPhone 4 being a complete redesign. iOS 5, on the other hand, I expect to to be a major overhaul.

Tens of millions of iPhone4's sold to-date in 7 months around the globe, not one peep of antennagate from valid sources, and now folks will spin this story out to be (once again) something it's not.

Keep the current (and great) iP4 design, and that show's Apple is in denial about antennagate.

Change the design, and trolls will dance under their bridges (or basement) and prove to the world that they did not have to wear tinfoil hats.

Is there an option 3 that simply allows Apple to change / tweak designs for the sake of evolution?

To me it feels like they *just* designed the iPhone 4. I think it would be very odd and unusual of them to ditch the new case design so soon.

The last case design lasted them for a few years. There were tweaks here and there, but it was basically the same shape and footprint. I would at this point expect the equivalent of an iPhone4gs, not a whole new design. After 1 year? I don't think an entirely new design makes sense.

I think people would feel a little ripped off too. It's dangerous of them to get in the habit of obsoleting cellular customers after 1 year. iPod nanos? Sure! Those cost $150 flat. Cell phones cost $2000 or more for the contract, I don't think its a good idea to piss people off when they're paying through the nose.

It makes no sense that Apple would mass produce a CDMA version of the iPhone 4 running CDMA only if they are planning on releasing the iPhone 5 with a GSM/CDMA chip in it. Why would they not wait the extra 4 months and release one unified product? That seems like it would be much more Apple's style.

One big thing with such a chip is that Apple would possibly have to pay higher licensing to Qualcomm per unit sold (which would make no sense since GSM will always sell way more than CDMA). Really the Verizon iPhone 4 seems like a stopgap - a temporary solution until Verizon is operating BOTH voice and data on LTE (currently data only).

I guess we will see what happens, but it just doesn't make sense that Apple would not just announce Verizon compatibility when they announce the iPhone 5 if this was the case. I think most people know deep down that for at least awhile, GSM models will come out before CDMA ones do (CDMA will be relegated to the quick slide that says "CDMA late Fall" or something like that).

I would like Apple to change their antenna supplier though. I don't think it is the sole cause of the issues people have been having with it by any means, but it is a chip that most manufacturers don't use stateside.

The only way I see this happening is if it is a way for Apple to disguise the fact that until they go LTE there is not much they can say that is exciting about EVDO. They can upgrade them on GSM to HSPA+ - which coud offer a dramatic increase in speed in some cases, but until they go LTE with Verizon it will be same old same old minus the hardware changes. No speed bumps (which they have gone out of their way to showcase in each iPhone presentation), and the only way they get simultaneous voice and data is if Verizon goes VoRA - which would open it up to the same weaknesses that AT&T has with their 3G network where data congestion can impact voice performance. I highly doubt Verizon will go through the costly upgrade to do VoRA while they are so aggressively rolling out LTE.

Long story short...for the iPhone 5 I am skeptical.

ummm I'm not sure it could be more than paying for licensing two technologies from Qualcomm.

To me it feels like they *just* designed the iPhone 4. I think it would be very odd and unusual of them to ditch the new case design so soon.

The last case design lasted them for a few years. There were tweaks here and there, but it was basically the same shape and footprint. I would at this point expect the equivalent of an iPhone4gs, not a whole new design. After 1 year? I don't think an entirely new design makes sense.

I think people would feel a little ripped off too. It's dangerous of them to get in the habit of obsoleting cellular customers after 1 year. iPod nanos? Sure! Those cost $150 flat. Cell phones cost $2000 or more for the contract, I don't think its a good idea to piss people off when they're paying through the nose.

Buy your phone outright so you don't have to be locked into a contract.

That's what I think too but Topolosky is increasingly well-connected with Apple.

I went and read his original article at Engadget afterwards anyway and what he says is a bit confused, so maybe what he heard is garbled or he doesn't understand what "total rethink from a design standpoint" actually means.

Also it seems that both the original article and this one are changing as we speak and the exact wording I saw the first time on each is now gone. Probably just hyperbole, which of course is so rare on teh internets.

Buy your phone outright so you don't have to be locked into a contract.

That's not even the point. Just sayin relative to the length of time the last iPhone design was on the market, a completely new case design wouldn't make sense. I can believe just about everything else here, even the highly questionable SD card slot on iPad 2 rumor is more believable than this.

You remember how much time Jobs spent talking about the case design? How great it was? They'd throw that out after 1 year? Really?

ummm I'm not sure it could be more than paying for licensing two technologies from Qualcomm.

I agree completely, I feel like it doesn't make sense for several reasons, but a cost standpoint is one of them. There are at least 3 times more users globally using UMTS/HSPA than there are using EVDO. No matter how entitled Verizon users feel, they will for awhile take a back seat to the rest of the world in Apples eyes...at least for awhile until they are able to offer a full LTE network that is not still using CDMA2000 for voice.

Anyways, I think it is fairly obvious that Verizon will not be getting the iPhone 5 at the same time as the rest of the world.

That's not even the point. Just sayin relative to the length of time the last iPhone design was on the market, a completely new case design wouldn't make sense. I can believe just about everything else here, even the highly questionable SD card slot on iPad 2 rumor is more believable than this.

You remember how much time Jobs spent talking about the case design? How great it was? They'd throw that out after 1 year? Really?

Sure they would if there is something out there that's better. The case design was great but something came along that was better. Ya know... innovation.

ummm I'm not sure it could be more than paying for licensing two technologies from Qualcomm.

Sure it would. This isnt a license the company pays per year, its a license they pay per unit. The whole reason W-CDMA (and then Chinas home grown TD-SCDMA) was created was to limit the stranglehold on licensing Qualcomm was requiring for the use of their patent encumbered technologies.

Unless Apple worked out some amazing deal with Qualcomm they will be paying more for licensing on the CDMA model than the GSM/UMTS model. If you make that a single model and only charge a single fee that is equal to the CDMA model Apple will pay a lot more money to Qualcomm for 10s of millions of iPhones and iPads that will never, ever be on a CDMA network.

Its said now that Apple pays Qualcomm 5% of GSM/UMTS iPhones price. Apple limits this charge by making Foxxconn sell them the iPhone at about half that rate, this way Foxconn pays Qualcomm 5% of that rate.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

How can they have a total redesign ready so quickly? Unless "total redesign" does not refer to a new industrial design, but just the new CPU, GPU and comms chip, which I suppose could fairly be called a total internal redesign.

"Right now, the device is being tested discreetly by senior staff at Apple (strictly on campus only)," the report said. "We don't have much info on the phone at this point, but our understanding is that the new device will be a total rethink from a design standpoint and will be running atop Apple's new A5 CPU (a Cortex A9-based, multi-core chip)."

Unless Apple worked out some amazing deal with Qualcomm they will be paying more for licensing on the CDMA model than the GSM/UMTS model. If you make that a single model and only charge a single fee that is equal to the CDMA model Apple will pay a lot more money to Qualcomm for 10s of millions of iPhones and iPads that will never, ever be on a CDMA network.

That thought crossed my mind too. Would Qualcomm give Apple a break on the licensing fees in order to sell a huge number of units and advance the relationship? Even if not, Apple will probably only be making devices with CDMA for a few years anyway, and the cost may be justified by the number of customers they can introduce (and addict) to their products, before most of the world unites on LTE.

I doubt Apple will change the external design around too much. It, however, has to do a significant internal design to accommodate the one phone on many networks philosophy which I totally believe Apple will do. The internal design change might cause Apple to have to change the external case somewhat. Apple might even change the glass enclosure, as some people report the enclosure breaks more easily (don't know if it is true or not).

Then again when Apple was trying to increase Macs sales in a limited market (e.g. when Apple was still trying to turn things around) one way it would accomplish that is to significantly change the external design to entice new buyers from the people who already had Macs. Apple doesn't change the Mac external designs around too much currently because it hasn't had to do so. It is significantly increasing sales every year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody

I find this part extremely hard to believe and pretty much bad news if true.

That thought crossed my mind too. Would Qualcomm give Apple a break on the licensing fees in order to sell a huge number of units and advance the relationship? Even if not, Apple will probably only be making devices with CDMA for a few years anyway, and the cost may be justified by the number of customers they can introduce (and addict) to their products, before most of the world unites on LTE.

I expect CDMA/EVDO chips in phones to outlast GSM chips in smartphones. Remember, CDMA is used for the voice and control channel so even after LTE has saturated markets it may still only be used for data, especially considering how much more efficient the older techs are on power usage.

GSM, on the other hand, isnt needed if your network is completely UMTS. Just look at S. Korea. They are loving the iPhone over there and they have absolutely no GSM to fall back on. Their 2G is CDMA which the current iPhone does not support.

Im guessing that well have a world mode iPhone in a couple years, but well know its coming because it will become standard on most smartphones first. This would indicate small, power efficient and cost effective chips and licensing, thus why I would then expect Apple to do it across their entire line.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

This flies in the face of the references just found inside iOS 4.3. Two iPhones are listed, most likely a GSM 3G model and a CDMA 3G model and three iPads are listed, most likely one WiFi, one GSM 3G and one CDMA 3G. I really think the iPhone 5 will be to the iPhone 4 what the iPhone 3Gs was to the iPhone 3G. In other words a speed bump for the most part. I doubt we'll see a new design until they are ready for 4G which probably won't be until 2012. Same goes for the iPad. Yes, we'll get the cameras but no "retina" display or SD card slot.

1. Easy, apple seems to be giving a lot of love to sd cards so it's possible this would make it to iPad.
2. A5 - iPad 2 exclusive for now.
3. Resolution - pixel 1.5 to make it easier on developers.
4. iPhone 5 will instead be iPhone 4D - d for dual carrier. A bit more ram, white color, bumper will be glued to the phone to save people some trouble.
What iPhone 4d lacks in new hardware features it will make up with some awesome improvements in performance and usability of iOS 4.5.

How can they have a total redesign ready so quickly? Unless "total redesign" does not refer to a new industrial design, but just the new CPU, GPU and comms chip, which I suppose could fairly be called a total internal redesign.

I would think they would have several designs 'competing' internally, so there will be other designs they can call on.

I agree that generally 2 years on one "look" makes more sense, but they may have found that they can get better antenna results with a different design. (My wife's iPhone 4 is on Telstra in Australia and performs brilliantly, but others I know on our other 2 networks are having lots of problems. Perhaps 850Mhz is the difference, or perhaps the Telstra network with more towers simply works better.)

I don't get this.... now they are saying the A4 processor in the AppleTV2 can't handle 1080P ??? I thought it was a limitation they self imposed because streaming wasn't up to 1080p speeds at the moment... So now this person is saying it's the processor that can't handle it?? WTF... better not be true i'm not buying another one just for that. Personally I find all these assertions to be highly unlikely aside from the 2 cams in the iPad which we all know is definitely got to happen, maybe the SD card too.

Sure they would if there is something out there that's better. The case design was great but something came along that was better. Ya know... innovation.

I suppose... but that will have to be some serious salesmanship. He'll effectively be declaring the iPhone4 case design dead, worthless and no good, and the new thing pure awesomeness. I dunno, I think this gets to be a credibility issue at some point, maybe soon.

The criticisms on the 'failure' of the iPhone4 case design will then only intensify, not go away.

I don't think so... if Apple really does have an A5 as described here in the works, ready to go, then its safe to assume all of the A4 devices that currently use it will get the refresh, probably this year at each device's normal refresh time.

And why not? Why support and make both the old processor and the new one if it truly is as inexpensive as it would seem? I mean if they put an A5 in the AppleTV and can still keep it at $99, then this really is the processor for the entire line.

Wishful thinking. Those features are what we'd all like to see, but historically Apple (after initial release of a device that changes the world) only introduces the minimum amount of features to placate customers, minimally compete with other products, and to maximize margins.

I doubt Apple will change the external design around too much. It, however, has to do a significant internal design to accommodate the one phone on many networks philosophy which I totally believe Apple will do. The internal design change might cause Apple to have to change the external case somewhat. Apple might even change the glass enclosure, as some people report the enclosure breaks more easily (don't know if it is true or not).

Then again when Apple was trying to increase Macs sales in a limited market (e.g. when Apple was still trying to turn things around) one way it would accomplish that is to significantly change the external design to entice new buyers from the people who already had Macs. Apple doesn't change the Mac external designs around too much currently because it hasn't had to do so. It is significantly increasing sales every year.

How can they have a total redesign ready so quickly? Unless "total redesign" does not refer to a new industrial design, but just the new CPU, GPU and comms chip, which I suppose could fairly be called a total internal redesign.

The most minor one was the move to the 3G, but the 3GS and iPhone 4 where each major revisions. As it is iPhone 5 may very well end up being a supplemental model. That is Iphone 4 becomes the low end machine and is marketed and developed from where it is now while iPhone 5 gets the bleeding edge development.

You see the big problem is that Apple basically has but one design for a cell phone. The guts may be a bit different but the externals really haven't changed that much. if you accept that Apple needs more than one model to be successful then you can also accept that iPhone 5 might re imagine what a cell phone can be. Just as Apple has multiple iPods to choose form to fit certain users so will it have multiple iPhones to choose from.